WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE
To haul or not to haul, that is the question. When you’re an avid lover of retail therapy, it can be hard to discern whether or not you truly need whatever you have the urge to shop for. The lines have become even more blurred as we’re constantly being fed content from all angles that seem to show us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it…(not suspicious at all…) I’m here with a few do’s & don’t’s that can help you make wiser shopping choices while still having more than enough looks to slay in…
DO HAUL IF… YOU’RE LACKING ITEMS IN ONE SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF YOUR CLOSET
Sometimes it all comes down to one particular void in our closets, and filling this one void can make all the difference. Have you ever had a few items hanging in your closet that have never been worn and you don’t know why? They look great on your body, you know exactly where you could wear them to, but for some reason you don’t reach for them… It could be because you want to do them justice, and you just haven’t found the perfect shoes to go with them. This could mean it’s time for a haul that focuses specifically on your shoe game.
Here’s another way to tell if it’s time to niche down your haul: whenever you go to accessorize, you find yourself reaching for that same old belt. It’s raggedy and hanging on its last thread but it fits and it goes with everything. This could mean it’s time to go shopping exclusively for belts, or even for accessories as a whole.
YOU NEED CLOTHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN YOUR CURRENT BODY SHAPE
Emphasis on current. I’m one of many who had to say goodbye (or at least see you later) to a few of my fave pieces in my closet simply because all the quarantine snacking caught up with ya girl! It was a sad departure but I am a firm believer that your clothing should be made to fit your body, not the other way around.
If the majority of your closet is ill-fitting and does not make you feel good about yourself and your body, now would definitely be a good time to strategically shop for a capsule wardrobe of well-fitting pieces. However, be sure to focus on only a few versatile, timeless items that you wouldn't mind restyling several times, especially if your plan is to work your way back down a size or two. Also, be sure to do some research on what styles are flattering on your current body shape.(Check out my blog post here if you need a little help before shopping!)
Meanwhile, simply pack away the clothes that don’t fit in a separate place from where you get dressed as you give yourself grace and time to work your way back to them. This way, you’re only seeing the options that you can fit and wear confidently.
DON’T HAUL IF… YOU’RE PANICKING BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FIND ANYTHING TO WEAR TODAY
It can be so easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and feeling like you need to start all over. However, what I’ve learned through my own shopping habits and through working with my clients is that sometimes it’s not that “we have nothing to wear”, but instead that we do not shop for full outfits that speak to our style. I can’t tell you how many times I had to stop myself from buying something just because “it’s cute.” The real questions are…
Do I need this? Do I already have something similar? Where exactly would I wear this to? What do I already own that would go with this piece to make a full outfit? Nowadays, If I can’t answer those questions, the item stays in the store.
INSTEAD, DO THIS…
Along with asking yourself the questions above before buying, plan a day off to literally just play in your closet and create outfits. Have a date night coming up? Try on your best-fitting dresses and jeans, and plan shoes and accessories beforehand.
Not only does this cut your getting ready time in half when it’s time to go out, but it also allows you to see exactly what pieces you’re missing so you can shop strategically over time, instead of mindlessly running out and buying a bunch of things you don’t need.
YOU ONLY WANT TO HAUL BECAUSE YOU’VE RECENTLY SEEN YOUR FAVORITE YOUTUBER OR BLOGGER DO ONE
We’ve all been there. You’re on youtube or scrolling through your feed and you see your favorite influencer giving all praise to a brand and showing off all of her new pieces from them.. next thing you know, you’ve got a tab open and you’re filling your cart up. While it’s cool to let our favorite style experts put us on to new brands and trends, we also have to be mindful that they’re doing exactly what they get paid to do… influence. We also have to remember that these influencers we love are often receiving products for free, or at a super discounted rate. So while we may get the fashion bug watching their content, it’s important to still shop strategically and within our means.
INSTEAD, DO THIS…
Window shop the brand first. This is easier said than done (especially with online brands) but every brand is not for everybody. Do thorough research on what type of styles a brand carries, what body types they cater to, and if you think they’re a fit, bookmark them for when you have some extra coin to spend. Even consider creating a “shopping time!” event on your calendar and schedule it for payday. This will allow to you to revisit with a fresh pair of eyes to be able to tell if the brand is really for you, or if you just got caught up in the hype of watching style bloggers reveal their new pieces, and got the impulse to shop.
Let me know in the comments whether or not it’s time for you to shop!
XO,